The current Mercedes C63 AMG is powered by a 6.2-liter V-8 engine that produces 457 horsepower. Things will change significantly for the next-generation sports sedan, as Mercedes->ke187 is planning to drop the current 6.2-liter engine in favor of a smaller, turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 powerplant, which is set to also see use in the upcoming SLC supercar.

The new AMG-built V-8 engine will share the same cylinder capacity, bore center spacing and other specific details with the upcoming turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine set to be used in the upcoming A45 AMG. This sharing of specifications allows this engine to carry a modular format, which can help save money too.

In its standard version the new 4.0-liter V-8 engine will deliver about 450 horsepower, but it could go as high as 600 horsepower in its high-output format. The latter of the two engines is rumored to replace the non-turbocharged 5.5-liter unit that Benz uses in the SLK55 AMG.

AMG boss Ola Kallenius all but confirmed the 4.0-liter powerplant at the recently closed L.A. Auto Show, but made sure not to let the cat completely out of the bag. We definitely got a glimpse of its paw though.

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